Last-gasp drop goal catapults Rockwell to final
Rockwell College 12 Castletroy College 10
It just doesn't come more dramatic than this. Losing by two points in the 12th minute of injury time and facing elimination from the Munster Senior Cup, Rockwell outhalf JJ Hanrahan, who had scored all of their points in this Avonmore Munster Schools Senior Cup Semi-Final at Clanwilliam on Wednesday of last week, received a pass from outhalf Tim Raftery at the base of a five metre scrum in the very last play of the game.
The young man from Currow instinctively kicked for goal and will scarcely land a more important drop goal, as his bombshell bisected the posts and put Rockwell College into their second final in as many years. That final will be played on St. Patrick's Day.
Rockwell knew this semi final would not be easy. Castletroy were the only team to beat them en route to last year's final and had overcome a promising Christians outfit in a dramatic quarter final. Rockwell coach Mark Butler opted to make no changes for the game, fielding the same team for a third game in-a-row.
The game didn't start the best for Rockwell, when after just four minutes full back Brian O'Rahilly was penalised for not releasing just outside his own 22 and Castletroy full back Padraig O'Connor made no mistake with the resultant penalty, putting the Limerick side three points clear. Just three minutes later JJ Hanrahan was unsuccessful with a penalty attempt. However Rockwell captain Shane Buckley grabbed the ball from the re-start and after Castletroy were penalised for going in from the side in the resulting ruck Hanrahan made no mistake at putting Rockwell back on level terms.
Castletroy missed another penalty in the first half before Rockwell narrowly missed a try before the break to leave the half-time score at 3-3.
Rockwell started the second half well and after an early infringement from Castletroy just outside their own 10 metre line Hanrahan put Rockwell 6-3 up. Ten minutes later Rockwell looked to be cruising when Castletroy were penalised for offside and Hanrahan again made no mistake with the penalty to put Rockwell 9-3 up .
Castletroy responded with a try and full back Padraig O'Connor made no mistake with the extra with a brilliant kick from close to the touchline to put them 10-9 ahead.
Castletroy continued to pile on the pressure during the closing minutes but failed to score before Harnahan stepped up to send the old Tipperary town venue into jubilation.
The victory means that Rockwell are through to final at the home of Munster Rugby in Thomond Park on St. Patrick’s Day, where they will meet the winners of the PBC V Munchin’s Semi-final, which will be replayed today, Thursday, after last Sundays game ended in a draw.
Rockwell College: Brian O’Rahilly (Tipp town), Shaun Horgan (Ballincollig), Harry McNulty (Bahrain), Donagh McGillacuddy(Dingle), Ross Mullane (Clerihan), JJ Hanrahan (Currow), Tim Rafferty (Tipp Town), Tom Doyle (Golden), Richard Moran (Dundrum), Cian O’Donnell (Charleville), Stephen Maguire (Holycross), Sean McCarthy (Castleisland), Shane Buckley (Capt, Buttevant), Joseph Meagher (Killenaule), Luke Cahill (Cloyne).
Replacments - Eddie Phelan (Ballybacon) M Cummins(Rahealty) Aidan O’Sullivan (Dunmanway), Myles Coffey (Bray) ,Declan White (Carrick on Suir), Eoin Farrell (Cahir) and Conor Holland (Cahir).
Referee - Dermot Moloney.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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